summer runnin'

Is gross. I did not "have me a blast." I waited until around 8pm to run last night in hopes that it would be a little cooler. Cooler is not really the right word to describe it, so let's just say that the temperature was lower. I think that part of the problem is that I run on unshaded asphalt that has baked in the sun all.day.long. When I run, I can feel the heat radiating up in waves towards me. So it was hot - that part was bearable. This part, however, is just disgusting:

That's me after my run last night. And those black spots on my chest and neck are bugs. Gross little irritating bugs that BITE. That get inside your sports bra and BITE. That fly into your eye and BITE. Well ok none of them actually bit my eye, but I'm sure they would've if they could.

Also gross (seriously, I'm warning you): my hair. I have fairly long hair these days and I typically wear it in a ponytail when I run. The problem is that it's so long that the end of the ponytail rests against the top of my back. My very, very sweaty back. Gross is running along with your wet with sweat ponytail hitting your back with each stride. I need a new running hairstyle. The easy solution would be to cut my hair, I know. But I don't wanna. I could french braid it and then pin it up, but that takes so freaking long to do. I could try to loop it up in a bun type deal, but my hair is so thick (woe is me) that most hair elastics aren't strong enough to keep it doubled up. Any long-haired runners out there with any suggestions??